One of the easiest ways to create a home that feels layered and full of character is by incorporating vintage artwork into your home. Over the years, I’ve found some incredible pieces at Habitat ReStore, antique malls, flea markets, and charity shops that I would happily buy all over again.
Last month I started a new monthly series called Worth the Hunt, where I share the vintage home decor, antiques, and thrifted finds that have had the biggest impact on our home. Some were investment purchases, while others cost less than dinner out, but every one of them has helped our home feel a little more collected.
In last month’s post, Worth the Hunt | 5 Vintage Home Decor Finds I’d Buy Again, I shared some of my all-time favorite vintage finds. This month, we’re narrowing the focus to one category I can never seem to get enough of: vintage artwork.
Whether I’m browsing an antique mall, thrift store, flea market, or vintage shop, these are the five types of vintage artwork I always stop to look at.
Textured Abstracts
One of the first pieces of artwork I ever purchased was this textured abstract painting. At the time, I was a design intern shopping with the designer I worked for at a local antique mall. We were searching for pieces for a client project we were getting ready to install when we spotted this painting in one of the booths. It wasn’t something I was initially drawn to and, honestly, I probably would have walked right past it had my boss not pointed it out.
The colors were so different from what I naturally gravitated toward at the time. Soft shades of whisper pink and lilac swirled together with muddy moss greens and touches of deep plum, while small hints of yellow kept the piece feeling light and balanced. The more I looked at it, the more I really liked the movement and texture.
It wasn’t right for the project we were working on, so we left it behind. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Later that weekend, I went back to see if it was still there. Thankfully it was, and eighteen years later it’s still one of my favorite pieces in our home.
More than anything, this painting taught me to keep an open mind when I’m shopping for vintage artwork. Sometimes the pieces that make the biggest impact aren’t the ones you’re immediately drawn to. If you’re creating a collected home, mixing different styles, including the occasional modern piece, keeps a space feeling layered, personal, and fresh. This abstract painting does exactly that in our home.
Landscapes Paintings
If creating a warm, collected home is your goal, landscape artwork should be on your wish list. I have several landscape paintings throughout our home, and they are some of my favorite pieces to decorate with. Their earthy tones bring warmth into a space while creating a calm, grounding atmosphere.
Some of my favorites, though, are a pair of moody landscape paintings that hang in our living room. While these are darker in tone and bring more drama than warmth, they’re also the most meaningful pieces of artwork in our home.
When my grandfather passed away more than ten years ago, I was asked if there was anything I wanted from his collection. My grandpa wore many hats throughout his life, but the one I remember most was as an antique dealer. He bought and sold all kinds of things over the years, and while much of it wasn’t quite my style, these two paintings immediately stood out to me.
I have no idea if they’re worth anything financially, but to me they’re priceless. Every time I walk past them, I’m reminded of my grandpa. The fact that they also happen to fit so naturally into our home feels like one last gift from him.
When you’re shopping for vintage artwork, don’t overlook pieces that carry a story. Sometimes the artwork that means the most isn’t the rarest or the most valuable. It’s the piece that remind you of a person, a place, or a moment in your life.
Harbor & Sailing Scenes
If landscapes bring warmth and calm to an interior space, harbor and sailing scenes bring movement. There’s something about boats, weathered docks, and coastal villages that instantly makes a room feel like it has a history.
I especially love these pieces because they layer beautifully with traditional interiors without feeling overly nautical. Their muted blues, soft grays, and earthy browns work with almost any color palette, while the water and architecture add just enough visual interest to keep a gallery wall or bookshelf from feeling one-dimensional.
If you’re decorating an English-inspired or collected home, don’t overlook harbor scenes when you’re antiquing. They’re timeless, easy to decorate with, and mix effortlessly alongside landscapes, florals, and architectural prints.
Floral Artwork
Floral artwork is another category I can never seem to pass by. I love having fresh flowers throughout our home, so it’s probably no surprise that I gravitate toward vintage floral paintings as well.
One of the reasons I love decorating with floral artwork is that it adds softness and warmth to a space. It also offers a wonderful opportunity to introduce color into a room. Whether it’s a subtle mix of dusty pinks and creams or a richer palette of burgundy, ochre, and deep greens, floral paintings can become the inspiration for the rest of your color palette. In fact, when I recently refreshed the gallery wall in our dining room, I intentionally used florals as the common thread to tie the collection together.
This particular painting hangs in our guest bedroom and was a recent find at a small antique shop. I immediately fell in love with its moody color palette. When I asked the owner about it, she told me she had found it in France on one of her sourcing trips. We ended up chatting about our shared love of moody floral paintings, and when she saw how much I loved it, she offered me a small discount.
If you come across a floral painting that speaks to you, don’t be afraid to bring it home. Beyond adding beauty to your walls, it may become the piece that inspires an entire room.
Architectural Prints
Architectural artwork is another theme I will almost always stop to look at when I’m antiquing. These pieces add a sense of history and timelessness to a home, but they can also become wonderful reminders of places that have shaped your life. Whether it’s a favorite city, a historic landmark, or a charming European street scene, architectural prints often tell a story beyond the artwork itself.
I studied abroad during my junior year of college and spent a semester in Florence, Italy. I found this framed sketch in one of my favorite local vintage boutiques and immediately knew it had to come home with me. During my semester abroad, I had the privilege of walking past the Duomo every day on my way to class, so seeing it again instantly brought me back to that time in my life.
That’s one of the things I love most about vintage artwork. Sometimes you’re simply decorating your home, but other times you’re bringing home a memory. Every time I walk past this sketch, I’m reminded not only of Florence, but of the incredible experience of living and studying abroad.
If you come across a piece of architectural artwork that reminds you of a place you’ve loved, don’t pass it by. Those are often the pieces that become the most meaningful over time.
Why Vintage Artwork Is Always Worth THe Hunt
One of the reasons I love decorating with vintage artwork is that it helps tell the story of our lives. Every piece in our home reminds me of a person, a place, or a season of life that shaped me in some way.
While someone else may simply see a beautiful painting hanging on the wall, I see a collection that has been built over time. To me, that’s what makes a home feel truly collected. It’s not about filling your walls with expensive artwork. It’s about surrounding yourself with pieces that mean something to you and make your home feel uniquely yours.
Leave a Reply